Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the effects of simulated weightlessness on lung function in healthy rats.
Methods: Experiments were conducted on 40 Sprague-Dawley male rats,divided into 4 groups:suspended for 7 d,control of 7 d and suspended for 21 d,control of 21 d.Tail-suspension(-30° ) was used as weightlessness simulation.Lung function were studied with animal plethysmography when suspension ended.Test results were compared statistically.
Results: Forced vital capacity(FVC), FEV
0.3%, Peak expiratory flow(PEF) and Maximal voluntary ventilation(MVV) tended to decrease,especially FEV
0.3% in 7 d and MVV in 21 d decreased significantly (i>P<0.05).Inspiratory resistance(Ri) and Expiratory resistance(Re) tended to increase and Ri in 7 d increased significantly(i>P<0.05).Compliance of lung(Cl) had not a prominent change.
Conclusion: Simulated weightlessness in tail-suspended rats has certain effects on lung function.